Fluid dispensing system



Sept. 24, 1963 R. L. GOMAN ETAL FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 8, 1960 2 Sheets$heet' 1 N E F o m M M N OAE MMW f OE K H. |L w M T mm M WWRA m N 0 W \I L ATTORNEY Se t. 24, 1963 R. L. GOMAN ETAL FLUIDDISPENSING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1960 INVENTORS ROBERTL. GOMAN ADRIAN J. KETTENHOFEN ow. J 3 I ATTORNEY United States Patent3,104,986 FLUID DISFENSHIG SYSTEM Robert L. Goman, 4772 N. BerkeleyBlvd, Whitefish Bay, Win, and Adrian J. Kettenhofeu, 402 7th St.,Neenah,

Filed Aug. 8, 1969, Ser. No. 48,205 4 Claims. (Cl. 118-2) This inventionrelates to fluid dispensing systems, and it more particularly resides ina. fully enclosed pressure system especially suited for the extrusion inaccurately metered amounts of viscous liquids such as adhesives.

The invention is particularly adapted for use, for example, inconjunction with continuous packaging lines wherein it is necessary toapply strips of adhesive along the margins of a succession of cartonsmoving along a conveyor in order that covers or labels may besubsequently secured thereto. Heretofore, the application of adhesivestrips in such a system has often been accomplished by means of a rollerrotatable on a horizontal axis and having its lower portion disposed inan open bath of adhesive. The moving cartons in such an installation arearranged to contact the upper surface of the roller thereby causing itto rotate, with such rotation causing the adhesive to be carried fromthe bath to the cartons on the periphery of the roller.

Bath rollers of the type described are subject to a number oflimitations in use, and have not proved satisfactory in all cases. Forexample, such rollers are generally capable of depositing adhesive onlyon the underside of a surface, and it has thus often been necessary toarrange conveyor lines to cause the cartons or other items to be turnedupside-down in order to deposit adhesive on their upper surfaces.Alternatively, it has been necessary to provide one or more transferrollers to deposit adhesive on upwardly facing surfaces. Since therollers in either case are generally actuated only periodically as eachcarton passes over, the adhesive may tlow downwardly about the rollersduring the interim periods whereby an insutficient or excessive amountof adhesive may be deposited on the first portions of the succeedingcartons.

Further, since the baths and rollers are fully exposed to thesurrounding air, the adhesive qualities of the adhesive being used maybe impaired after the apparatus has been in use for a time. In order toavoid such a loss of adhesive qualities, it may be necessary to depositonly small amounts of adhesive in the baths at any one time, thusnecessitating frequent refillings. This exposed arrangement alsonecessitates the complete dismantling and cleaning of the baths androlls after each period of use, a time-consuming and distasteful task.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a fullyenclosed, pressure operated system for the dispensing of adhesives andsimilar fluids which overcomes the foregoing disadvantages.

-It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system whichis capable of periodically extruding accurately metered amounts ofmaterial in a controlled, continuous flow Without pressure surges.

It is another object of this invention to provide an adhesive dischargenozzle for such a system which provides for even, controlled flow ofmaterial therethrough, and which may be adjusted to deposit the adhesivematerial in heretofore inaccessible areas such as the inside edges ofcartons.

The foregoing are merely illustrative, however, and further objects andadvantages will become apparent from the description to follow. In thedescription, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof, in which there is shown by Way of illustration and not oflimitation a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view of an adhesive dispensing system embodying theinvention herein in which parts are shown broken away and in section,and other parts are represented schematically,

FIG. 2 is a view in cross section of the adhesive applicator anddischarge nozzle of the system of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, partially in cross section, of a portionof the applicator of FIG. 2 and showing a second embodiment of adischarge nozzle, and' FIG. 4 is a view in perspective showing theadhesive applicator and discharge nozzle in use.

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there isshown therein an enclosed adhesive dispensing system which includes anadhesive reservoir 1 adapted to be filled with adhesive (not shown)which may be in the form of a standard 55 gallon metal drum as shownherein. To allow clarity of disclosure, the adhesive to be dispensed isnot shown in the drawings herein but it will be understood that thesystem shown is intended to be filled with a suitable adhesive. The drum1 is provided with a flange 2. at its upper end, and a matching flange 3of a cover 4 is attached thereto by any suitable means, the cover 4serving to enclose the top of the drum 1. The connection between theflanges 2 and 3 is not completely airtight in order to allow adhesive tobe dispensed in a manner to be hereinafter described.

A pump 5, preferably air operated, is attached to the cover 4 andextends downwardly into the drum 1. The pump 5 may be of any standardconstruction, and preferably includes an air motor piston =6 which iscaused to reciprocate vertically within a cylinder 7 by compressed airentering the pump 5 through a pump actuating air line 8. The verticalreciprocating movement of the piston 6 is transmitted by a connectingrod 9 to a displacement piston 10 dependent from the rod 9 which piston10 is vertically reciprocable within a chamber 11. A foot valve opening12 is provided at the bottom of the chamber 11 and is closable by a footvalve ball stop 13 the upward, or opening, movement of which is limitedby a pin 14- extending inwardly from the wall of the chamber 11. Apiston valve opening 15 is provided in the piston 10 and may be closedby a piston valve ball stop 16, the opening movement of which is limitedby the lower end of the connecting rod 9. An adhesive outlet line 17 isin communication with the upper end of the chamber 11 and leadsoutwardly of the pump 5.

In operation of the pump 5, as the piston 10 is moved upwardly inresponse to the upward movement of the piston 6, a partial vacuum iscreated under the piston 10 and the adhesive in the drum 1 enters thechamber 11 through the foot valve opening 12 in response to theatmospheric pressure within the drum 1. The foot valve ball stop 13 isfree to open to allow such flow, but is ted in its opening movement bythe pin 14. The pressure within the drum 1 is maintained at atmosphericlevel since air is allowed to enter therein between the flanges 2 and 3.During the upward stroke of the piston Ill, the piston valve ball stop15 remains in a closed position thereby maintaining the necessaryvacuum. During the downward stroke of the piston 10, in response to thedownward stroke of the piston 6, the ball stop 13 falls to a closedposition and is held there by the pressure within the chamber 11 whilethe ball stop 15 is allowed to assume an open position, its upwardmovement being limited by the connecting rod 9. During the course ofthis downward stroke, the adhesive in the chamber 11, under the piston'10, is allowed to pass through the opening 15 and to the space abovethe piston 10. The next upward stroke of the piston 10 causes moreadhesive to be drawn into the area under the piston 10 While thatadhesive occupying the space above the piston 10 is forced upwardlythrough the outlet 17, the closed ball valve 16 preventing downwardpassage of the adhesive through the opening 15. The air pressure neededto operate the pump will depend upon the viscosity of the fluid beingdispensed and the pressure desired in the outlet line 17. In the systemshown herein, which is designed for dispensing an adhesive having aviscosity of 2800-3400 centiposie at 70 degrees R, such as the waterdispersion adhesive manufactured by Swift & Co. as type Z3917, it hasbeen found desirable to provide approximately 50 p.s.i. pressure in theactuating line 8 in order to provide for a pressure of 140 p.s.i. in theadhesive outlet line 17.

Although the pneumatically operated displacement pump 5 shown herein hasproven satisfactory in use, it will be understood that any of a numberof other standard pumps may be used without departure from theinvention. Therefore, a number of the specific details of constructionof the pump 5 have neither been shown nor described herein, it onlybeing necessary to provide adequate pump means to force adhesive throughthe outlet line 17 fi'om the drum 1 at a desired pressure.

Although the pump 5 is arranged to force adhesive through the line 17 ata desired pressure of 140 p.s.i., it will be obvious that pressuresurges due to the reciprocating action of the pump 5 will cause thispressure to deviate. Therefore, the outlet line -17 is connected, by afitting 18, to a diaphragm type fluid pressure regulator 20 of astandard construction. It is the function of the pressure regulator 20to even out the pressure surges in the in the line 17 whereby adhesiveflow at a constant pressure through a line 21 serving as an adhesiveinlet to an adhesive applicator 22. A gauge 23 serves as a means wherebythe operation of the regulator 20 may be checked. In order to insure aneven flow through the line 21, it is desirable to set the regulator 20for an output pressure less than that available from the line 17.Therefore, in the embodiment shown, the regulator 20 is arranged toprovide an output pressure of approximately 100 p.s.i. in the line 21.Since the regulator 20 maybe of any of a number of constructions wellknown in the art, the spe cific structural details thereof have not beenshown nor described herein.

As stated above, the line 21 serves as an adhesive inlet to theapplicator 22 and, referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the line 21is provided with a conical fitting 24 which is held against an inletopening 25 by means of a nut 26. Adhesive from the line 21 flows throughthe inlet opening 25 and downwardly through a valve or discharge opening27. A needle valve 28 serves to meter the flow of adhesive through theopening 27 and is connected by a releasable joint 29 to a pneumaticallyactuated piston 30 operating within a chamber 31. Due to the releasablejoint 29, the adhesive carrying elements of the applicator 22 may beentirely disconnected for cleaning. A control air line 32 is connectedto an air inlet 33 of the applicator 22, and the inlet 33 extendsangular-1y and upwardly to enter the chamber 31 at the bottom thereof. Apiston spring 34 operates between the piston 30 and a threaded cap 35 tourge the piston 30 downwardly as seen in FIG. 2. A control spring 36operates between the piston 30 and an adjustment knob 37 threadedlyengaged to the cap 35 against the bias of the spring 36. The cap 35extends downwardly into the chamber 3-1 to serve as a limit to theupward motion of the piston 30. The knob 37 may be turned into or out ofthe chamber 31 to provide a line adjustment of the spring force exertedon .the piston 30. The piston 30 and its associated elements serve as acontrol means for thevalve 28. When compressed air from the line 32enters the applicator 22 through the inlet 33, the piston 30 is forcedupwardly against the springs 34 and 36, the air trapped above the pistonbeing let out through an outlet port 38. This motion is transmitted,through the joint 29, to the d metering valve 28 which is thereby raisedfrom the discharge opening 27 to allow the passage of adhesivetherethrough. When the flow of air through the line 32 is cut off, thesprings 34 and 36 are freed to force the piston 30 downwardly therebyclosing the valve 28 and stopping the flow of adhesive.

The applicator 22 is further provided with a cylindrical aperture 39 anda set screw 49 by means of which it may be mounted to be positioned withrespect to a conveyor line.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the terminal end of theapplicator 22 is threaded as at 41. An adapter 32 provided with anarrowed neck portion 43 is positioned adjacent to the valve opening 27and has an opening 44 therethrough. A flexible tube 45, preferablyformed of polyethylene, is disposed at one end about the neck portion 43and extends downwardly therefrom. An O-ring 46 is positioned about thetube near the base of the adapter 42, and a guard tube 47, preferablyformed of a relatively soft material such as copper, is disposed aboutthe tube 45 and is provided with an outwardly turned flange 48 incontact with the O-ring 46. A shouldered nut 49 is threadedly engagedwiththe threads 41 and serves to hold the adapter 42, tube 45, O-ring46, and tube 47 in clamping engagement with the applicator 22. Theadapter opening 44 and tube 45 together constitute a discharge conduitfor the applicator 22, and should be of substantially equal internalcross section to allow for a smooth flow of adhesive .therethrough. Thecopper guard tube 47 may be bent as in FIG. 4 whereby the tube 45 willbe held in a position to discharge adhesive in any desired area. Thetube 415 preferably fits loosely within the tube 47 to preventconstrictions caused by such bending which may cause an uneven flow.

A shorter, non-flexible discharge nozzle 50 is shown in the embodimentof FIG. 3 and has a roughly conical body portion 51 threadedly engagedwith the threads 41 and a narrowed downwardly extending neck portion 52having a cylindrical discharge orifice 53. The discharge nozzle 50 maybe more suitable for some continuous runs where it is only necessary todeposit adhesive on upwardly facing surfaces.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the applicator 22 ispositioned immediately above a conveyor belt 54 moving in the directionof the arrow as seen in FIG. 1 and on which is carried a series ofobjects such as cartons 55. A precision switch 56, or othersuitable'sensing device such as a photoelectric cell, is preferablypositioned immediately below the conveyor 54 and includes an upwardlyextending actuating arm 57 which is engageable by each carton 55 as itpasses thereover. The switch 56 is connected by a cable 58 to a timer 59which may be of any suitable standard construction. The timer 59 isconnected in circuit with a solenoid 6b which is in turn connected to anair valve 61 having an inlet 62, an outlet 63 and a vent 64. The controlair line 32 is connected to the outlet 63 of the valve 61, and a controlair supply line 65 is connected to the inlet 62.

A main air supply line 66 is connected to a source of compressed air(not shown) and serves to supply air to the pump actuating line 8 andcontrol air supply line 65 through a T connection 67. An extractor 68,of standard construction, may be connected in line with the main airline 66 and functions in the normal manner to trap water vapor containedin the compressed air. A pump air line regulator 69 is connected in linewith the line 8 and serves to maintain the pressure necessary to operatethe pump 5, 50 p.s.i. in the embodiment shown. A control supply linepressure regulator 70 is connected in line with the line 65 and servesto regulate the pressure therein. In the embodiment of the inventionshown the control air line is designed to operate with a pressure ofapproximately p.s.i.

In operation, adhesive is forced from the drum 1 through the regulator20 and to the applicator inlet 24 by the pump 5 above described. Theadhesive is, however, prevented from flowing through the applicatoropening 27 by the valve 28 which is normally held in a closed positionby the springs 34 and 36. When a carton 55, traveling along the conveyor54, reaches the position shown in FIG. 1 wherein the switch actuatingarm 57 is depressed, the switch 56 is actuated thereby actuating thetimer 59. The timer 59 in turn completes a circuit through the solenoid60 which thereby causes opening of the valve 61, allowing compressed airto pass trom the line 65 through the inlet 62 and out the outlet 63 tothe control air line 32. The action of the air on the piston 30 causesthe valve 28 to be raised as described, thereby allowing adhesive toflow through the opening 27 and the tube 45 to be deposited on thecarton 55. The timer 59 arranged to interrupt the current to thesolenoid 60 at a predetermined time after actuation of the timer 59, andthis time is equal to that required for the carton 55 to pass under theapplicator 22 as determined by the speed of the conveyor 54 and thelength of the carton 55. When the timer 59 reaches its shutoff point,the solenoid 69 is deactivated and the valve 61 is closed thus cuttingoff the supply of compressed air through the line 32. The piston 30 isthen free to be forced downwardly by the springs 34 and 36, theentrapped air being let out through the vent 64. By virtue of thisaction, the valve 28 is moved downwardly into a closed position thuscutting off the flow of adhesive. When the succeeding carton 55 strikesthe actuating arm 57, the entire cycle is repeated.

In some applications, it may be desirable to substitute another sensingdevice, such as a photoelectric cell, -for the switch 56. In such cases,it may be possible to dispense with the timer 59.

Thus it can be seen that there is provided herein a fully enclosed,pressure-actuated system with means included therein for insuring aneven continuous flow of adhesive without pressure surges, and withcontrol means included therein for causing the adhesive to be accuratelymetered in predetermined amounts in response to a timing circuit. Due toits enclosed construction, the system need not be shut down and cleanedafter each period of use and, indeed, the tube 45 is maintained filledat all times by capillary action, whereby it is unnecessary even to capthe tube 45 at the end of such periods. As seen in FIG. 4, the dischargenozzle is flexible and enables the adhesive to be deposited onheretofore inaccessible portions of the cartons.

Although the system shown is especially suitable for depositing adhesiveon a succession of cartons moving along a conveyor, it will be obviousthat the system might easily be adapted for a number of other uses orfor use with other materials. Therefore, although a preferred embodimentof the invention has been shown and descnibed herein, it is desired thatit be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specificform and arrangement of parts shown except insofar as such limitationsare contained in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In an enclosed adhesive dispensing system the combination comprising:an enclosed adhesive reservoir having an outlet line for dischargingadhesive from the reservoir under pressure; an air activated pumpattached to said reservoir and connected to said outlet line for movingadhesive into said outlet line under pressure; an adhesive applicatorhaving a discharge opening with a metering valve, a control means forsaid metering valve, and an adhesive receiving inlet leading to saiddischarge opening; an inlet line leading to said adhesive receivinginlet; a pressure regulator interposed between and joining said outletline and said inlet line which regulator admits adhesive to the inletline at a sustained pressure reduced from peak pressures within saidoutlet line; a control air line connected to said control means for saidmetering valve; a solenoid operated valve leading to and adapted foropening and closing said control air line; a timer :for feedingoperating signals to said solenoid operated valve; an article positionsensing device connected to said timer; and a main air supply line forsaid pump and said solenoid operated valve.

2. In an enclosed adhesive dispensing system the combination comprising:an enclosed adhesive reservoir having an outlet line for dischargingadhesive from the reservoir under pressure; an air activated pumpattached to said reservoir and connected to said outlet line -for movingadhesive into said outlet line under pressure; an adhesive applicatorhaving an elongated flexible discharge conduit of substantially constantinternal cross section wit-l1 a metering valve, 21 control means forsaid metering valve, and an adhesive receiving inlet leading to saidconduit; an inlet line leading to said adhesive receiving inlet; apressure regulator interposed between and joining said outlet line andsaid inlet line which regulator admits adhesive to the inlet line at asustained pressure reduced from peak pressures within said outlet line;a control air line connected to said control means for said meteringvalve; a solenoid operated valve leading to and adapted for opening andclosing said control air line; a timer for feeding operating signals tosaid solenoid operated valve; an article position sensing deviceconnected to said timer; and a. main air supply line for said pump andsaid solenoid operated valve, said main air supply line including airpressure regulating means for maintaining desired pressure therein.

3. In an adhesive applicator including a discharge opening with ametering valve, a control means for the metering valve, and an adhesivereceiving inlet leading to the discharge opening, the combinationtherewith of: an adapter adjacent said discharge opening and having anopening therethrough in communication with said discharge opening; anelongated flexible adhesive discharge tube disposed at one end aboutsaid adapter; a flexible guard tube that is only slightly shorter thanthe adhesive discharge tube and is loosely disposed about said adhesivedischarge tube with one of its ends located at the adapter, said guardtube being deformable to a set position to direct said adhesivedischarge tube in a selected direction, the said discharge opening,adapter opening, and adhesive discharge tube being of substantiallyequal internal cross section; and means to hold said adapter, adhesivedischarge tube and guard tube in clamping engagement against saidadhesive applicator.

4. In an adhesive applicator including a threaded terminal portionhaving a discharge opening thereth-rough, a metering valve, a controlmeans for the metering valve, and an adhesive receiving inlet leading tothe discharge opening, the combination therewith of: an adapter having abase abutting the terminal portion of the applicator at the dischargeopening and a narrowed neck portion extending outwardly therefrom, saidadapter having an opening therethrough in communication with saiddischarge opening; an elongated flexible adhesive discharge tube tightlydisposed at one end about the neck portion of said adapter; a flexibleguard tube having a flared end abutting the base of the adapter, saidguard tube being loosely disposed about said adhesive discharge tube andbeing only slightly shorter than said adhesive discharge tube, saidguard tube being deformable to a set position to direct said adhesivedischarge tube in a selected direction, the said adapter opening andadhesive discharge tube being of substantially equal internal crosssection; and threaded means engageable with the terminal portion of theadapter, said threaded means having a shoulder engageable with theflared end of the guard tube to hold the guard tube and adapter inclamping engagement against the terminal portion of the applicator.

(References on following page) 7 8 References Cited in the file of thispatent 2,747,539 Pefler May 29, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENTS 35 233 igg g8: 132? 1,440,624 Peters et a1. Ian. 2, 1923 e 2,113,244 Shevlin Apr. 5,1938 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,609,306 Pasotti Sept. 2, 1952 545,196 CanadaAug. 20, I957

1. IN AN ENCLOSED ADHESIVE DISPENSING SYSTEM THE COMBINATION COMPRISING:AN ENCLOSED ADHESIVE RESERVOIR HAVING AN OUTLET LINE FOR DISCHARGINGADHESIVE FROM THE RESERVIOR UNDER PRESSURE; AN AIR ACTIVATED PUMPATTACHED TO SAID RESERVOIR AND CONNECTED TO SAID OUTLET LINE FOR MOVINGADHESIVE INTO SAID OUTLET LINE UNDER PRESSURE; AN ADHESIVE APPLICATORHAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING WITH A METERING VALVE, A CONTROL MEANS FOORSAID METERING VALVE, AND AN ADHESIVE RECEIVING INLET LEADING TO SAIDDISCHARGE OPENING; AN INLET LINE LEADING TO SAID ADHESIVE RECEIVINGINLET; A PRESSURE REGULATOR INTERPOSED BETWEEN AND JOINING SAID OUTLETLINE AND SAID INLET LINE WHICH REGULATOR ADMITS ADHESIVE TO THE INLETLINE AT A SUSTAINED PRESSURE REDUCED FROM PEAK PRESSURES WITHIN SAIDOUTLET LINE; A CONTROL AIR LINE CONNECTED TO SAID CONTROL MEANS FOR SAIDMETERING VALVE; A SOLENOID OPERATED VALVE LEADING TO AND ADAPTED FOROPENING AND CLOSING SAID CONTROL AIR LINE; A TIMER FOR FEEDING OPERATINGSIGNALS TO SAID SOLENOID OPERATED VALVE; AN ARTICLE POSITION SENSINGDEVICE CONNECTED TO SAID TIMER; AND A MAIN AIR SUPPLY LINE FOR SAID PUMPAND SAID SOLENOID OPERATED VALVE.